Effectiveness for Using of Local Exhaust Ventilation Systems in the Workplace - Literature review Example

Name) (Instructor) (Institution) (Course code) (Date) Local Exhaust Ventilation technique is an engineering method of controlling the pollution of environment by trapping the particles at the point of production rather than releasing to the environment. If released, these dusts will pollute the environment. The techniques work by extracting air at the point of dust production and curtail it before it comes in contact with the members of staff or worse off to the residents who live around the dust production site This technique is ideal for trapping and recovering some of the materials used in the process making it economically viable to the company. This method is also good for its ability to maintain product quality void of dirt and dust. Other reasons why this method is recommended is that it contribute to good housekeeping as well as being a good method of protecting process equipment (Oughton, Hodkinson and Brailsford, 2014, p. 695) Local Exhaust Ventilation system is designed in a way that it is able to control and direct the airflow emitted in the when working into a hood that is connected to its ductwork system According to COSHH Regulations of the year 2002, it underlines that contact or exposure to contaminants and other hazards must at all cost be effectively controlled if it cannot be completely avoided. The principles in the rules underlines that control measures need to adhere to fully to engineering and hierarchy solutions to be put in place to manage the exposure of hazards before the taking the considerations of personal protective equipment. It is therefore wise for the company to consider the use of Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) since it is also more efficient as compared to the use of dust masks (Www2.warwick.ac.uk, 2010) Local exhaust Ventilation is far much more effective than dust mask. Dust mask usually give an extensively varying and unpredictable level of production. As a result the staff will be at risk of exposure of harmful wood dust if the dust mask is selected. Local Exhaust Ventilation is very effective as compared to dust mask. This is because LEV is able to trap, extract and carry away all the wood dust and other contaminants before they come in contact with the employees. Dust mask is note that effective since the pollutants and wood dust is circulation in the air therefore putting the employees at risk. When an effective LEV is put in place, all the staff will need not to worry about the risk of wood dust contaminants (Oughton, Hodkinson and Brailsford, 2014, p. 695) When dust mask is used. The human resources productivity will be lowered. It is important to note that dust mask is not that effective as they can be lost or damage. The employees will waste productive time looking for replacement of the same. Furthermore, there are risks the come along with the use of dust mask. Studies have found that there is reduced vision, breathing when used. If other personal protective equipment is used, there is a possibility of reduced hearing and mobility as well. Since the workers are exposed they will need to take many breaks to breath in fresh air and take some drinks. This therefore lowers their productivity to the company. It is therefore recommended that the company to opt for Local Exhaust Ventilation over the use of dust mask The use of dust mask is not recommended protective measure. This is because is less effective method of controlling not only wood dusts but also other harmful substances. Dust mask and other personal preventive equipment are normally used as a remedy when other methods cannot sufficiently control the hazards in the environment (Burgess, Ellenbecker and Treitman, 2004, p. 330). Local exhaust ventilation is undisputedly the most favorite method whenever it is possible to install. This is beaus the method is able to much less amount of gas in an efficient way yielding to lower costs incurred in cooling and heating expenses. It is therefore recommended to use Local Exhaust Ventilation over dust mask. This is because the company will save much from investing in cooling and heating. Furthermore the temperature at workplace will be well-managed to improve the employees’ productivity. High temperature will cause some degree of stress to the employees therefore negatively affecting their productivity. The employees’ health will not be affected by the wood dust but also high temperatures when the Local Exhaust Ventilation is not put in place. By opting to install Local Exhaust Ventilation, the company will save a lot in the overall running of the company as compared to the dust mask. Dust mask is not as effective in protecting the employees. The member of staff will be at risk of becoming sick due to the exposure of the wooden dust and other chemicals the come in contact. Many workers will be seeking for time off so as to regain hood health. Other will seek for sick leave to treat the illnesses that will come along with the exposure of contaminants in the air. The company will have to gather for their medical expenses and even legal expenses for exposing the member of staff to toxic substance. Furthermore, the company may be forced by the Occupation and Safety and Health authority to fines for not fully complying with the set standards and rules where its workforce is very vulnerable (Oughton, Hodkinson and Brailsford, 2014, p. 695) Local Exhaust Ventilation is the best option for the company to invest in. by arresting the wood dust and other hazards from the source, the workplace will be good for doing clean work. The surface of the whole workstation will be clean. No unnecessary clear will be done. If the dust mask is opted, wood dust and other untapped large particles will settle in the surface affecting the quality of the work being done. Some of the work done and chemicals used will be contaminated by these particles if the Local Exhaust Ventilation is not installed. It is the responsibility of the company to take care of waste materials and the environment in general. If the company opts for that dust mask, the environment will be very vulnerable. For this reason the company will be faced with numerous legal battles for not complying to take care of the environment. Huge fines might be imposed on the company for not complying with rules. There is also the possibility of it being shut down. Failure to adopt the Local Exhaust Ventilation will lead to the dust being blown into the air where it will affect both the flora and fauna. It is therefore wise for the company opt for the Local Exhaust Ventilation as this will be able to trap all the particles and direct to place where the company will be able to manage. By trapping them, the company will be able to dispose them safely or recycle them into good use saving a lot of money Dust mask is not appropriate for the company especially where the number of employees is large. This is because different people have varying preference, taste and choices. It is important to note that not all members of staff are comfortable working with dust mask. Some become irritated by putting it all the whole day. Some feel suffocated by having it. At the same time, putting the dust mask on for a long period of time, the temperatures tend to increase leading to less comfort on the side of those having it. The dusk mask many a times become blocked and or come in contact with contaminations. The company is therefore supposed to go the Local Exhaust Ventilation to avoid exposing the member of staff to such stressful and uncomfortable situations. Investing in dust mask is very suicidal for the company. This is because of the expenses involved. If the company goes for the dust mask, the company will need to provide other additional protection measures that will offer more protection to the members of staff. It is very important to note most of this personal proactive equipment the company will offer is not long-lasting. It will force the company to replace them regularly. As a result, the cost of production will sky rocket making the company very vulnerable. The situation will make worse if the number of employees in the company is very large. It is therefore wise for the company to adopt the Local Exhaust Ventilation where the dust, contaminants and other hazardous materials are trapped and tapped at the point of production. The company will not need to worry about providing all the protection to its many workers. Everyone in the company will be safe (Burgess, Ellenbecker and Treitman, 2004, p. 330). By adopting the Local Exhaust Ventilation, the company will saving themselves from many challenges they will face if they adopt the dust mask. These challenges which the company will save themselves include the human resources turnover. Employees who feel that their safety and welfare is not assured, the will look for employment opportunities somewhere else. The cost of identifying, hiring and training of new employees is huge costing the company a lot. High turnover rate also will have a negative impact on the reputation of the company. People will not be willing to work for it. Local Exhaust Ventilation will be the solution of this challenge. The company will be able to avoid training and instilling skills to new workers who will not become valuable to the company due to high rate of turnover The types of particles the company will be producing are mostly from wood products. These particles are large enough to be able to settle down. When these particles settle down, they will contaminate the factory environment and other surfaces. The best method of handling this challenge is adopting the Local Exhaust Ventilation. Adopting the dust mask will not help much as regular cleaning will be needed to remove the wooden dust from the surfaces in the company factory (Burgess, Ellenbecker and Treitman, 2004, p. 330). Local Exhaust Ventilation is the best option to adopt by the company factory. This is due environmental protection which is needed by the local residents. It is important to note that the factory is located in area where there are residents who live around. Some of these residents include the factory employees. It the duty of the factory to make sure the general environment safety and curtailing of pollution is guaranteed. If the use of dust is adopted the company, the surrounding environment will not be safe as the dust will be blown by wind to the neighboring communities and residential places which will be bad for the company. This is exposure to harmful dust and chemicals to the surrounding environment will likely have negative health impacts of the local residents and the company will be liable for that (Burgess, Ellenbecker and Treitman, 2004, p. 330) The Local Exhaust Ventilation is appropriate when the emission of particles do vary over a period of time. This is good for this factory since production of these wooden particles are some stopped momentarily With the reasons discussed above, it will be very wise for the company to consider adopting Local Exhaust Ventilation instead of dust mask. It is very much safer not only to the company employees but also to the neighboring resident. By its installation, members of staff will feel safe and therefore lead to lower turnover rate. The company will be complying with the set standards that require the arrest of pollutants at the point of production rather than after being released to the environment where it becomes hard and expensive to contain. Local Exhaust Ventilation is only expensive to install but becomes cheaper in maintenance as compared to dust mask which require regular replacements of personal protective equipment of which are not effective in protecting members of staff from exposure to dusts, contaminants and other hazardous substances released in the production process. Furthermore by installing Local Exhaust Ventilation, the employees are able to work optimally with high output leading to high productivity References Burgess, W., Ellenbecker, M. and Treitman, R. (2004). Ventilation for control of the work environment. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Interscience, p.330. Oughton, D., Hodkinson, S. and Brailsford, R. (2014). Faber & Kell's Heating & Air-conditioning of Buildings. London: Routledge, p.695. Www2.warwick.ac.uk, (2010). Local Exhaust Ventilation. [online] Available at: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/healthsafetywellbeing/guidance/lev/ [Accessed 12 Mar. 2015]. Read More